VIDEO: A place to remember

Amy Cavalier, staff writer

Thursday

May 29, 2008 at 12:01 AMMay 29, 2008 at 10:49 PM

Churchville-Chili High School dedicated a memorial in honor of five students who passed away recently.

Heavy hearts, tears streaked cheeks filled the crowd as the Churchville-Chili High School community dedicated a memorial garden to five students who passed away in the past year or more. Churchville-Chili high school students Brian Sayasith, Katie Palmer and Teddy Peindel were killed in an accident over Memorial Day weekend last year. Mackenzie Stenglein and Dan Myslivecek passed away after battles with cancer.

Charlotte Bruney, a minister at Mackenzie’s church, St. Vincent de Paul in Churchville, told the crowd gathered near the high school’s football stadium on Thursday, May 22 not to be afraid of the emotions they are feeling.

“You sometimes find yourself hurting so badly because you were loved and you loved so deeply, that in itself, those tears are a blessing,” she said.

The memorial, consisting of several benches, a sun dial and a tree, was made possible through fundraising by parents of the deceased students as well as their peers. Senior High School principal Bill Geraci said students and parents sold bracelets, held a dance-a-thon, and organized several other fundraisers to pay for the memorial.

“I think there was real value in that because it was a way for people to really acknowledge the five young people and grieve, which is also important,” said Geraci.

“What a nice thing this is forever,” said varsity baseball coach Ed Distaffen. “While we’ll look back and have some sad memories, you obviously had some happy ones and stories that will last forever. You can always keep those. Those will never go away.”

Dan Myslivecek’s younger sister Alyssa, 16, said she didn’t know what to expect from people at school when her brother passed away in 2006.

“What you guys have put together here is amazing,” she said, “and I know my whole family appreciates it.”

Distaffen asked the students to emulate the good qualities they loved in their friends who have moved on.

“Keep in your heart and keep in your minds all the good qualities they had, and if you dwell on those, I think in the long run, everyone’s going to be okay,” he said.

Mackenzie’s mother, Denise Stenglein, said she is certain her daughter’s friends will never forget her smile.

“She had a captivating smile and a tremendous sense of humor,” she said. “They went hand in hand.”

Cindy Palmer said her daughter Katie was “no drama.”

“She had a lot of friends and I hope I can emulate half of what she was,” she said.

Amy Cavalier can be reached at (585) 394-0770, Ext. 243, or
acavalier@messengerpostmedia.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.